Edmodo’s “friends” list is among the fastest growing in the school district.

Last August, just five teachers and 141 students had Edmodo accounts. Currently, 32 district teachers and 842 students are registered with Edmodo, a free and secure social networking platform.

“We continue to build the culture and curriculum needed to support digital-age learning through an infusion of information and communication technologies and digital learning resources,” said Victor Guthrie, the district’s director of information services. “Our deployment of Edmodo provides a unique and engaging opportunity for students to work cooperatively with their peers in an online environment.”

In early 2010, Thurston Middle School social studies teacher Carl Nelson was the first to use the tool in his classroom. He was so impressed with the results that he shared his success at a Thurston staff meeting.

Nelson turns to Edmodo to upload tools such as links to videos, pictures and audio as well as to send email blasts to students. Student feedback has been positive.

Thurston math teacher Stacy Quirarte relies on Edmodo to replace her math blog. She helps students use the program as a communication, planning and organizational tool. The site also functions as a forum where students share their learning experiences and collaborate to brainstorm on their math challenges.

Edmodo also speeds up collaboration among administrators, as Top of the World Elementary Principal Ron La Motte knows. He meets online with 60 peers countywide to collaborate and share educational strategies. In addition to the monthly online meetings, educators can start an Edmodo thread about a particular topic and receive feedback from educators who have encountered similar challenges.